Download Government Chapter 1

Government Chapter 1
People and Government
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State- From Aristotle and his study of the
Polis
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Population
Territory
Sovereignty
Government
Nation- Common race, language,
customs, traditions.
 Nation-state- boundaries coincide, such as
France.
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Section 1: Principles of
Government
Evolutionary Theory- evolve from the
family
 Force Theory- Government formed when
the people came under the rule of one or
a group.
 Divine Right Theory- Gods chose certain
people to lead.
 Social Contract Theory- Thomas Hobbes,
people surrendered the power to maintain
order and be protected.
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Theories of the origin of the State
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Governments get authority from;
◦ Legitimacy- willingness to obey.
◦ Coercive force- police, courts, and military.
Maintaining Social Order
 Provide Public Services
 Providing National Security
 Making Economic Decisions
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The Purposes of Government
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Government Systems
◦ Unitary System- All power to central
government
◦ Federal System- Shared power
 Confederacy
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Constitutions and Government
◦ Written versus unwritten
 U.S. oldest written
 Great Britain unwritten
Section 2: The Formation of
Government
Incomplete Guides- constantly adapting
 Statement of goals
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◦ Preamble
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Framework for government
◦ Sets up the Government
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The Highest Law
◦ Constitutional Law
Constitutions
Seeking Government Benefits- which
groups win out
 Importance of Politics- the give and take
needed to manage conflicts in society.
 Special Interests- looking out for specific
ideals.
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◦ James Madison and the Framers were weary of
factions (special interest groups)
Politics and Government
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Major Inequalities Among States
◦ Industrialized
◦ Developing nations
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Growing Interdependence
◦ Global economy and trade agreements (NAFTA)
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Nonstate International Groups
◦ Al Qaeda
◦ World Trade Organization
◦ Multinational Corporations
Governing in a Complex World
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Autocracy- One person in control
◦ Total Dictatorship- Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin
◦ Monarchy
 Absolute- 1400-1700, western Europe
 Constitutional- more common today, Great Britain
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Oligarchy- Rule by a few, communist
countries
Democracy/Republic- voters are the source of
power.
◦ Direct Democracy
◦ Representative democracy
Section 3: Types of Governments
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Individual Liberty
◦ With limitations
◦ Equal opportunity
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Majority Rule with Minority Rights
◦ Certain rights guaranteed
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Free Elections
◦ One person, one vote, restrictions minimal
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Competing Political Parties
Characteristics of Democracy
Active Participation
 A Favorable Economy
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◦ Free Enterprise
Widespread Education
 Strong Civil Society
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◦ Network of voluntary associations(Red Cross)
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A Social Consensus- General agreement
on purpose and limits of Government
The Soil of Democracy
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The Role of Economic Systems
◦ What and how much to produce
◦ How do we produce
◦ Who gets the goods and services produced
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Capitalism- Origins with Adam Smith The Wealth
of Nations
◦ Free market
◦ Laissez-faire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUWDrgrLKrk
Section 4: Economic Theories
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Capitalism continued
◦ Private property, competition, and profit are
key
◦ No pure capitalist system
◦ Government influence
 Grew during the depression
◦ Mixed-market Economy
Economic Theories
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Socialism
◦ Equal distribution of wealth, Public ownership of
production
◦ Democratic Socialism- People elect officials,
government controls production
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Communism- Karl Marx, The Communist
Manifesto, Das Kapital
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Bourgeoisie
Proletariat
Based on class struggle
Leads to Command Economy
Economic Theories